Everyone turned to look and saw Simone standing a short distance away, her face lit up with delight.


    At first, Simone''s eyes found only Joshua. But the moment she spotted Ste, her smile faded just a bit.


    Ste had always known Simone was interested in Joshua. In the past, she hadn''t cared much-after all, she and Simone barely crossed paths.


    But after what had happened with Leonard, Ste found herself less inclined to look kindly on Simone.


    Still, Joshua was free to choose his friends; she had no right to interfere. Besides, Leonard''s reasons for kidnapping her were rooted in Aurora, not Simone.


    "I''ll let you catch up with Miss Lerman," Ste said to Joshua, her tone polite but distant. "Foreman and I will go have a look around."


    Joshua shook his head immediately. "No need. Miss Lerman and I aren''t that close."


    Simone''s smile faltered, freezing in ce.


    She knew perfectly well that Joshua was deliberately keeping his distance in front


    of Ste, making sure there was no room for suspicion.


    But hearing it out loud still stung.


    Ste made no move to greet Simone. "Let''s go," she said quietly.


    "Alright," Foreman replied.


    The three of them walked away without a backward nce.


    Simone stared after their retreating figures, biting her lip so hard it almost hurt.


    "Stop staring," a voice came from beside her-Leonard. He gazed in the same direction, his eyes icy and sharp.


    "Simone, don''t kid yourself about Joshua. He''s not on our side, and he never will be."


    Simone bit down even harder, trying to defend herself. “Joshua''s just putting on an act for Ste, that''s all."


    Leonard sneered. "If he were only pretending, why has he never slipped you a single message? Why did hee to the hospital trying to kill me?"


    Simone wanted to snap back: That was only because you deliberately made Joshua suspicious of me. If not for that, why would he be so cold?


    Back then, even Rachel with her clumsy attempts at acting-managed to get Joshua''s help over and over. There was no way Simone could believe she was less persuasive than Rachel.


    It was all Joshua and Aurora, deliberately driving a wedge between them!


    Simone understood that Leonard, nowpletely devoted to Aurora, would never allow her and Joshua to be together. For all she knew, the alleged attack at the hospitalwas just another one of his lies.


    There was no point arguing any further. Simone fell silent.


    A few minutester, Aurora finished signing autographs and taking photos with her fans and returned.


    Noticing the strange expression on their faces, she asked, “What''s wrong? Did something happen?"


    Leonard replied, "We just ran into Ste, Foreman, and Joshua. Who knew they''d


    be in the mood for an art show after all that''s happened."


    Aurora looked at Leonard. "Maybe you should apologize to Ste,” she said


    gently. "Whatever else, what you did... really wasn''t right."


    She had already learned from Leonard himself that he''d been behind Ste''s kidnapping, and she didn''t approve of it for a second.


    Leonard brushed it off. "I just wanted to teach her a small lesson. Don''t worry, Aurora. Even if she gets into the Williams Group, she won''t threaten your ce there. I''ll make sure of it."


    Aurora tried to reason with him. "Leonard, Ste and I aren''t on such bad terms. I''ve already exined-the leak about me being an illegitimate daughter didn''te from her."


    A cold, almost mocking smile yed at the corner of Leonard''s lips. "It doesn''t matter whether she did it or not. Better to be safe than sorry. If she wants to take what belongs to you, she deserves whatever she gets.


    She even tried to break off the partnership between the Lerman family and the


    Williams family. Can''t you see how ambitious she is?"